Halcyon Aces

Halcyon Aces (formerly "Deck of Fate") is a card-driven tabletop RPG that replaces dice with a standard 52-card deck. Every card you play matters—each draw thins your deck and brings you closer to exhaustion. The game's heart is Resonance: when the card you play matches your stat's suit, add your stat value to the card's base value for explosive results.

Build your character from eight modular Trait Trees (Swordcraft, Magecraft, Spiritcraft, Warcraft, Shadowcraft, Faithcraft, Wildcraft, and Guncraft), learn signature Techniques, and pick Talents that define your playstyle. A sword-swinging fire mage and a sharpshooter who heals allies are equally possible—your combination of choices is your class.

Core Principles:

• Every card matters. Each card you play leaves your deck thinner. Manage your hand, chase high cards, and decide when to push your luck.
• Suit is identity. Chasing Resonance (matching card suit to stat) is one of the game's core tensions.
• No class, all choice. Build what you want from modular Trait Trees, Techniques, and Talents.
• Damage is effort. How hard you hit depends on how cleanly you overcome defense—rewarding skill and strategy.

Every character has four stats, each tied to a card suit. When you draw a card that matches your stat's suit, you achieve Resonance and add your stat value to the card's value.

Hearts ♥ — Conviction & Passion

Your emotional strength, force of will, and ability to inspire others. Use Heart for leadership, intimidation, persuasion, and resisting fear or mental influence.

Clubs ♣ — Physical Prowess

Your raw physical power, coordination, and athleticism. Use Body for melee attacks, feats of strength, endurance, and acrobatic maneuvers.

Diamonds ◆ — Intellect & Cunning

Your analytical thinking, knowledge, and tactical mind. Use Mind for investigation, crafting, strategy, perception, and ranged attacks requiring precision.

Spades ♠ — Spiritual Power & Aether

Your connection to magic, spiritual forces, and the supernatural. Use Spirit for spellcasting, sensing magical energies, communing with spirits, and channeling aether.

Creating a character in Halcyon Aces is a modular, choice-driven process. You'll define your background, choose your starting strengths, and pick the Trait Trees and abilities that match your playstyle.

Five Simple Steps:

• Choose Your Background: Define who you were before adventure called. Backgrounds grant narrative hooks and minor mechanical benefits.
• Pick Your Star Sign: Your astrological sign grants a unique passive Perk that shapes your approach to challenges.
• Select a Starting Template: Choose from pre-made stat arrays or customize your own. Distribute points across Heart, Body, Mind, and Spirit.
• Learn Talents & a Perk: Pick 3 starting Talents from combat, social, exploration, and knowledge categories. Choose 1 additional Perk for further customization.
• Finishing Touches: Calculate derived values (Vitality, Deck Size, etc.), choose starting equipment, and finalize your character concept.

As you adventure and gain experience, you'll unlock Trait Trees, learn powerful Techniques, and expand your Talents—shaping your hero into exactly the character you want to play.

Halcyon Aces is currently in active playtesting at version 0.6. The core resolution system, combat mechanics, character creation, and all eight Trait Trees are complete and ready to play.

Current Focus:

• ✅ Core card-driven resolution system
• ✅ Character creation framework
• ✅ Eight Trait Trees with Techniques
• ✅ Talents, Perks, and Fatigue mechanics
• ✅ Combat system and zone-based positioning
• 🚧 Equipment system and gear progression
• 🚧 GM tools and encounter design guidelines
• 📝 Playtesting feedback integration
• 📝 Setting and lore development

If you're interested in following development or providing feedback, check the devlog for updates and playtest reports.

Halcyon Aces is being developed in public with regular playtest updates, mechanical deep dives, and design discussions shared along the way.

Ways to Stay Updated:

• Follow the devlog for regular development updates and playtest reports
• Check Twitter for quick updates and design insights
• Download the playtest on itch.io and try it at your table
• Join the Discord to discuss the game with the community

Playtesting is open! The game is designed for 2-5 players and sessions typically run 2-4 hours. All you need is one standard deck of cards per player and you're ready to play.